Cock-controlling device for air-brake systems.



V. J. KOEHLER. COGK GONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23, 1909.

952,121 Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

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locking device t heretor,

viewer. J. KOEHLER, or PUNXSU'I'AWNEY, PELNNEYLVANIA.

COCK-CONTROLLING- DEVICE FOR AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Application filed August 23, 1909. Serial No. 514,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lvnown that I, Vic/on J. Konnnnu, citizen of the United Statesresiding at Pnnxsutawney, in the county of Jetl'erson and State ofPennsylvania,have invented certain nw and useful Improvements inUock-Controlling Devices for Air-Brake Systems; and i do hereby declarethe following to he a full, clear, and-exact description of theinvention, such aswill enable-others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. i

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in handles.for stop cock valves, and is more particularly adaptcd-t'or use on thattype of angle cock valves used in air brake systems.

The particular object of my invention is the production of a combinedhandle and lock, provided with a casing for the protection of the valvestem and its connections against injury by weather conditions andaccidentaldisplacement and to produce a positive locking means in eitheran open or closed. position of the valve.

In my device, two direct; movements of the handle are required to etleetthe rotary movement of the valve stem. This arrange inent providesagainst accidental movement of the valve, by which accidents havefrequently happened, owing to the accidental stoppage of communicationby reason of the train pipes being, closed at some point between theengineers brake valve and rear end of the train. This may he eansed bysome object coming in contact with the angle cock plug or stem wherebythe spring tension in the angle cock body is relaxed, eansing theaccidental rotary movement of the angle cock plug or stem to a closedposition and preventing; the engineer from control ling the brakes inthe rear of the closed an gle cock.

A further feature of my invention lies in the fact that no change isrequired in tl angle cock hody now in use. when it is desired to use myinvention in cormeetion therewitln further than the. removal of thehandle: now in use and thesuhstitution of my the said device heingsecured to the stem of the angle cock by a pin in the usual way.

in order that my invention may he c early understood, 1 have illustratedit in the a eon'ipanying drawings, in which i ha e shown one form inwhich l have contentplated embodying my invention. and the saidinvention is fully disclosed in the i'ollowing specification" andclail'ns, reference being had to the said drawings, in whichsimilarreference letters refer to identical parts throughout.

in the drawings, Figure l is a side eleva- .iP'atented Mar. 15. tutti.

tion partly in section, of an angle ((JCh dosigned particularly for usein an air brake system, and having my improved controller a.ppliedthereto Fig. 2 is a top view of a portion of the angle cock body showingthe position of the locking lugs. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thecasing tormiin part of the controller and fitted on the stem of thecock. Fig. 4- is a hottom plan view of said casin 'lfi 5 is a ilan viewof the it nor face of the l'oeking plate. Fig. o is a side vievw'oj. thesame. Fig. '1' is a i'ierspective view of the controller lever orhandle.

In the drawings A. represents an angle cock of usual I or preferredconstruction, adapted more especially for use in air hrake systems,although I wish it understood that my invention is also applicable toother uses. Thanglecock A is provided with locking shoulders a, a andthe valve proper of said angle cock is provided with a. valve stem a forrotating the valve to open and close the same. The stem (r is preferablysquare in cross section, as shown. Y

B re iiresents a valve stem ('ittSillQCOI'ilfillS- ing a cylindricalexterior wall forming part of my improved controller. having a closedtop I) from the center of which projects downwardly a hollow boss Z)provided with a recess '2 square in cross section and shaped to fitsnuglyover the similarly shaped valve stem ((9 to. which it is securedby a pin 72 passilm through, the boss and stem as shown. lhe casing 13is provided on opposite sides oi" the exterior wall with recesses t)" inline with the-pin Zr? to facilitate the insertion and removal of thesaid pin. The casing 13 is also provided with a portion If perforated atb to reeeive a pivot pin to which the con troller lover or handle isseemed, and the casing is also provided with afmain stop recess cl, ofthe locking plate portion b" extending downwardly from the 1 the lug d"as at d of the locking plate, be

top of the casing, and partially surrounding the boss 5' for engagingone or the other of the shoulders 6!, (Z on the locking. plate D, tolimit the rotary movement of the valve.

C represents the controller lever or handle, which is provided with aportion adapted to be pivotally connected to the casing, and

which is curved so as to form a portion a .which will lie wlthin thecasing h and extend over the valve stem a and conform to the center bossF) of the casing. A pin 0 passes through the portion 6 of the casing Band the lever and connects the lever pivotally to the casing. The lever(l is also provided with a portion c for en aging a l) at the open orclosed position of the valve, to lock said valve in the ositions inwhich it is stopped by the sai stop portion b on the ,having a centralaperture (Z, to allow the plate to surround the valve stem a". Thislocking plate or ring is provided on its upper face with projecting'upright portions or lu gs (3, d concentric with the main stop portionor lug Z) of the casing B, and when the parts are assembled, the lugs b,d, d will. form an interior wall substantially surrounding the boss 5.ring is also provided on its lower face with a depending locking portionor In d to engage the locking shoulders at, a otthe angle cock body. Thelogs d, (Z are so arranged on the locking plate as to form recesses forengaging the locking portion 0 of the handle as at d, d to hold or lookthe valve in its open or closed positions. I

E represents a spring for holding the vertically movable locking handlenormally in its lowest position, said spring having its ends bearingagainst the top side of the handle C and the underside of the top of thecasing 5 The operation of the device is apparent.

, In the position shown in Fig. l, the locking portion (Z on the lockingplate D is in engagement with the lugs or shoulders a, a of the cockbody and the portion 0 of the lever or handle Cis in the recess (i ofthe locking late D, at the open position of the valve, t as looking thevalve of the cock firmly in that position. When it is desired to changethe position of the angle cocl: valve, the outer end of the lever israised. againstthe pressure of the spring E until the ortion c of saidlever is clear of the shou der d of the locking plate D when the ,vercan be moved laterally with the casing rotate the valve stem until thestop on. bhon the casin l3 engages the other shoulder oi ol the loclringplate, when the portion 0 or" the handle or lever will. engage Thislocking plate oring forced and retained there by the spring E, when theouter end of the handle s re leased, thus preventing the return movementof the lever. By this arrangement it is obvious that the valve of theangle cock may be held. locked in either open or closed position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a cockcontrolling device, the combination with a relatively stationary memberadapted to be attached to the valve casing, of a member adapted to beattached to the valve stem and to move therewith, said movable memberhaving a limited movement,

and an operating handle pivotzilly secured to saidmovable member, saidhandle being movable laterally to operate the valve and vertically toengage portions of said stationary' member to lock the valve againstmovement.

2. In a cock controlling device, the combination with a relativelystationary member adapted to be secured to the valve casing,

of a member adapted to be secured to the valve stem and to movetherewith, cotiperating lugs on said members for limiting the movementof the valve, and an operating handle pivotally secured to said movablemember, said handle being movable laterally to operate the valve andspring pressed vertically to lock the valve. I

3. In a cock controlling device, the combination with a plate adapted torest upon the top of the valve casing and having. an aper-' ture thereinto permit the valve stem to bination with a plate adapted to rest "uponthe top of the valve casing and having an aperture therein to permit.the valve stem to project therethrough, cooperating lugs on said plateand the valve casing for maintaining said plate stationary, a casingmember adapted to be secured to the valve stem and to move therewith,cotiperatin lugs on said member and said plate to limit the movement ofthe valve and an operating handle pivotally secured to said member,

said handle being movable laterally to up crate the valve and springpressed vertical into recesses in said plate to positively locli thevalve in either open closed position.

5. in a cock controlling device, the c0mia lly 'connected within saidcasing, a

bination with a plate adapted to rest upon the top oi the valve casingand having an aperture therein for receiving the valve stem, said platehaving a portion for engaging lugs on the valve casing to maintain thesame stationary, a casing inclosing said plate and having a centrallydisposed boss arranged to fit onto the valve stem, a memoer carriedwithin said casing and arranged to cooperate with lugs on said plate tolimit the movement of the valve, handle 'pivotally secured within saidcasing, said handle being movable laterally to operate saidcasing andthe valve, and a spring within said casing tending to move said handlevertically into engagement with portions of said plate to lockthe valveagainst move- :ment.

6. In a cock controlling device, the combination with a casing ha ving acentrally disposed boss adapted to be rigidly secured an operatingadapted to pro ections said pro- "ection's hom so arran 'ed as to formrecesses f casmg,

ment.

to positively lock the valve against move 7. In a cock controllingdevice, the combination with a part adapted to be rigidly secured to avalve adapted to lie upon the top of the valve casing and havingportions projecting upright therefrom forming part of an interior walltending to surround the part to be rigidly secured to the valve stem,said locking ring being provided on its under side with a lockingprojection for engaging projecting stops on'the valve body, a valve steman operating handle pivotally connected thereto, means whereby theoperation of the handle will adjust said casing to an operative or aninoperative position, the eas- 1 in com )risin a boss and a artialinterior i l i i l i and an exterior wall surrounding the boss toprotect the valve stem, a portion of the handle and its connections,said interior and exterior walls being provided with apertures orrecesses to facilitate the insertion and removal of the connecting meansfor i securing the boss to the valve stem.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture, in the presence of twowitnesses.

. VICTOR J. KOEHLER. Witnesses:

HARRY M. KANARR, MAURICE LQCOULTER.

stein, a locking ring

